Northern Cardinal

(Cardinalis cardinalis)

Where: Richmond, VA • Glidewell Rd.

Notes: Fall brings the opportunity to capture and create some colorful images. Hours of waiting and watching paid off when this brilliant male Cardinal perched on this Maple branch on its way to a backyard birdfeeder. I had gotten some shots of this guy a few weeks before, but the bird had not completed its year end molt and was quite patchy looking. Now with his new feathers all in place, he is much more photographic. However, not all combinations of bright colors coordinate well with the fall foliage. Shots of this same species perched on the purplish-red branches of a Black Gun produced less interesting images, due to the lack of contrast mostly. But soon the leaves will be gone and the winter migrants will arrive in greater numbers and I look forward to their seasonal visit.